Magnetic clearance socket



P 1965 LE ROY J. WENDLING 3,207,010

MAGNETIC CLEARANCE SOCKET Filed Nov. 29, 1963 32 54 4! 4o T k 4 4 k ,5 g 38 39 26KB FIG-8 I4 33 3a FIG-7 :2 FIG-9 FIG 10 m 'J 2: B 33 zz as INVENTOR.

LEROY J. WENDLING (is wwww ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,207,010 MAGNETIC CLEARANCE SOCKET Le Roy J. Wendling, Dayton, ()hio, assignor to Gardner- Denver Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,777 7 Claims. (Cl. 81-125) The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to magnetic clearance sockets for the driving of nuts, sheet metal fasteners and the like onto projecting bolts and stud screws.

The sockets of the invention are provided with a magnet for picking up and supporting such fasteners in operative position on the socket while the element is being positioned for driving and prior to the time that the fastener has become atfixed. Heretofore, tools of the like nature have been devised in which a magnet has provided for picking up and holding a fastener during the initial phases of the driving operation, and the socket disclosed herein constitutes an improvement on previously designed tools of this nature. In many instances, in such tools there has been provided a shoulder or stop of some kind to restrain the magnet and the bushing by which the magnet is held, including a spring which controls the movement of the magnet, where the magnet is resiliently mounted in the tool in order to provide a clearance space for the machine screw or stud.

The magnetic clearance socket of this invention has a magnet held at the free length of the retaining spring, and is characterized by ease of assembly and disassembly for cleaning purposes. Magnetic sockets sometimes become inoperative after use due to the fact that iron particles, combined with oil and other foreign substances, enter the socket cavity and eventually cause the magnet to be jammed near the rear of the socket. The ease of disassembly and assembly of this invention permits the restoration of the socket and prolongs its useful life.

One of the objects of the invention therefore is the provision of a magnetic clearance socket having an improved spring attachment to the magnet and in which the magnet is positioned substantially at the free length of the spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this type in which the magnet is resiliently mounted within the socket body without any stop restricting the outward movement of the magnet into the driving cavity, the magnet being entirely supported and positioned by a resilient spring to which it is connected.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a driving tool for fasteners having a resiliently mounted magnet for insuring proper contact between the tool and the fastener wherein the magnet is freely floating and does not require a shoulder to contain it or the associated parts in place.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a tool in which one end of the spring which provides resiliency to the magnet is contained in a groove or other suitable recess formed in a bushing surrounding the magnet and thus is secured to the magnet and in which the other end of the spring is secured to the tubular member forming the holder for the magnet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement wherein the spring in a groove in the bushing contacts a shoulder forming the rear wall of the groove and wherein the magnet is forced back against the portion of the spring which is in contact with the shoulder in order to lock together the spring, the bushing, and the magnet.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a magnetic clearance socket of a spring having its end loop at one end arranged outside of the next adjacent loop ice and concentric therewith in order to allow the spring to operate properly in a central position with little if any tendency by reason of force exerted upon the spring to unwrap or wrap the outer loop and thus withdraw it from its connection with the bushing with which it is associated.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a magnetic clearance socket having a coil spring which, in repose, has an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the socket body so that the coil bears against the interior of the socket.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in a magnetic clearance socket of a magnet retainer spring wherein one or both of the ends are formed with concentric loops with the outer loop received within a suitable retainer groove in the socket body or in the magnet sleeve.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view with parts broken away showing a work piece into which a stud bolt has been inserted, a sheet metal fastener for the bolt, and a clearance socket tool made according to this invention for picking up and driving the fastener on the bolt;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation of the tool of FIG. 1 on a slightly larger scale than FIG. 1 and looking at the tool from the end thereof nearest the observer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view end elevation of the tool shown in FIG. 1 also on a slightly larger scale than FIG. 1 and showing the end of the tool opposite to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view showing in end elevation the end of the magnet retaining spring which is adjacent the magnet of the tool;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section of the fragment of the spring shown in FIG. 5, being obviously on a larger scale than FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view in end elevation showing the end of the spring opposite that shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in section similar to a portion of the section shown in FIG. 3 but showing the tool supporting and retaining a sheet metal fastener;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the tool in the act of driving the fastener of FIG. 1 over the bolt shown therein, it being noted that the magnet, the magnet bushing and the spring are moved to the right by the stud bolt from their relative position in FIGS. 3 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a view in vertical section of a fragment of an alternative form of tool, the view being similar to the right hand portion of FIG. 3 and showing a different arrangement for securing the spring to the socket body; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed view in end elevation of the end of the spring shown in FIG. 10.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, there may be seen in FIG. 1, .a magnetic clearance socket 10 having a generally tubular body 11, a forward end 12 and a rearward end 13. The body 11 has a generally cylindrical bore but the forward end 12 is formed with a non-circular outline 14 which is in this case shown as hexagonal and the rearward end is partially closed to form a square drive socket 15 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Adjacent the rearward end, the tool 10 is formed with a transverse hole 16 to receive the detent ball of a square driver, not shown.

The purpose of the tool is for the driving of driven elements such as for example a nut or sheet metal fastener 21 which is to be screwed upon the threaded end of a stud bolt 22 or the like whichhas been inserted for instance through work pieces 23 and 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the nut 21 has threads 25 in order to cooperate with the threads of the bolt 22. I

As is seen best in FIG. 3, the socket body 11 is formed with an internal bore 31 which is generally cylindrical and extends throughout the body 11 except at the forward end 12 and at the rearward end 13, the forward end being formed with the non-circular socket (hexagonal as shown) 14 and the rearward end being partially closed and forming a square drive opening 26. Within the uniform cylindrical bore 31 there is inserted a cylindrical magnet 32, a non-magnetic bushing 33 for the magnet 32, and a spring 34. These parts are essential parts of the embodiment of the invention illustrated here and therefore a more detailed description of each of these elements is necessary.

The spring 34 is generally a spiral spring as defined in Chambers Technical Dictionary (Revised Edition) 1959, as follows: A spring formed by coiling a steel ribbon (or wire) into an elongated spiral or a helix of increasing diameter. When compressed completely, it forms a true spiral. In describing the spring hereafter in this specification and in the claims, the words spiral spring are to be given this meaning.

Thus, the spring 34 is generally .a spiral spring but as shown in FIG. the rear end is formed as later described and the forward end of spring 34 is formed with a pair of concentric coils 35 and 36, the outer coil 35 being at the end of the spring and surrounding the inner coil 36. Inner coil 36 is connected to the main body of the spring. The purpose of the double coil 35-36 is to prevent the tilting or the contracting to a smaller diameter by the outer coil when the spring is stretched. The main body of the spring is, as stated, generally spiral in nature except for the forward portion just described and the rearward portion next to be described. The spring thus consists of .a plurality of intermediate spiral convolutions as shown in addition to the two coils at the forward end and the several coils at the rearward end.

The rearward end of the spring 34 is formed with several coils such as the two coils 38 and 39 as shown which are larger than any of the coils of the body of the main portion of the spring and thus considerably larger in repose than the two coils 35 and 36. In fact the coils 38 and 39 are slightly larger in external diameter than the internal diameter of the tubular body 11. As shown, there are only two of these coils at 38 and 39 at the rear but there could be more or even less although it is preferable to have at least two. The end 40 of the spring adjacent the coil 39 is turned diametrically of the spring and of the holder or tubular body 11 and extends beyond the circumference of the spring into a transverse opening 41 in the wall of the tubular body 11.

The bushing 33 is hollow and is provided with an internal groove 42 adjacent the rear opening thereof. This groove has a forward wall and a rearward wall. The rearward wall constitutes a shoulder against which the coil 35 normally bears. However, the coil 35 could fit fairly loosely between the front and rear wall although it is preferred that it contact both. On the other hand the forward wall could be eliminated and the coil 35 locked against the rear wall by the magnet 32 as later described. The coil 35 is inserted by winding or tightening and inserting in the groove 42, and when released secures the forward end of the spring 35 to the bushing 33. The magnet 32 (as shown) is press fitted within the bushing 33 and is pushed back into firm contact with the coil 35. This locks the coil 35 in the groove 42 against the rear wall or shoulder and prevents its withdrawal. However, it is not necessary that the magnet 32 be pushed into such firm contact as to lock the end of 4 the spring in the groove inasmuch as the arrangement of the double concentric coils lock the outer coil spring securely enough to the bushing 33 for all operational purposes. As noted above, this resists the normaltendency of the outer coil to decrease in diameter under stress on the spring, and lock this coil in the bushing groove.

Operation The magnet and bushing are supported by the spring 34 with an end of the magnet 32 extending into the drive socket opening 14. In FIG. 8 there is shown the forward end of the tool 10 with the magnet 32 holding a sheet metal fastener in driving position on the socket.

In FIG. 9 there is shown the tool 10 being used to secure the fastener 21 on the threaded portion of the bolt 22 which extends through the work pieces 23 and 25. It will be noted that the bushing 33 and magnet 32 have been moved to the right relative to the body 11 by the bolt 22 compressing slightly the main or intermediate coils of the spring 34.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 there is shown a modified form of connection at the rear end of the spring 134 contained in the body 111 of the tool 110. Therein the body 111 is provided with a groove 117 which is similar to the groove .42 in the bushing 33 and the spring 134 is provided with an inner coil 1'36 and an outer coil 135, the outer coil 135 being arranged to extend into the groove 117. The coil 135 forms the connection of the main portion of the spring 134 to the coil .136 and being positioned concentrically within the outer coil 136, it resists the tilting, cocking, or withdrawal of the coil 136 from the groove.117.

While several specific forms of tools have been de scribed herein and while these specific forms constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A magnetic clearance socket for driving driven elements such as nuts, sheet metal fasteners and the like comprising:

a substantially tubular body member having a front end and a rear end and having a substantilaly cylindrical longitudinally extending bore extending substantially from the front end to the rear end;

means on the front end of said body member formed with a non-circular outline for rotating one of said elements, and means on said rear end of said member formed for attachment to a driving member by which the tool may be rotated;

a non-magnetic sleeve slidably mounted in said bore;

a magnet secured within the hollow of said sleeve;

magnet retaining and positioning means comprising a coil spring in said bore and secured at its rear end to said body member and having its front end extending into the hollow of said sleeve and connected to said sleeve at said hollow for resiliently position-. ing said magnet in said bore substantially at the free length of said spring and constituting the sole means for retaining said magnet within said bore, and said front end of said spring being formed with a pair of substantially concentric turns includingan outer turn engaging said sleeve inthe hollow thereof and an inner turn lying closely within the inner dimensions of said outer turn resisting contracting of said outer turn under stress.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the sleeve is formed with means defining an inwardly extending shoulder and the spring has its said outer turn clamped between said shoulder and said magnet.

3. A magnetic clearance socket for driving driven elements such as nuts, sheet metal fasteners and the like comprising a substantially tubular body member having a front end and a rear end and having a substantially cylindrical longitudinally extending bore extending substantially from the front end to the rear end;

means on the front end of said body member formed with a non-circular outline for rotating one of said elements, .and means on said rear end of said member formed for attachment to a driving member by which the tool may be rotated;

a non-magnetic sleeve formed with the shoulder slidably mounted in said bore;

a magnet secured within the hollow of said sleeve; and

magnet retaining and positioning means comprising a coil spring in said bore and secured at its rear end to said body member and having its front end extending into the hollow of said sleeve and connected to said sleeve at said hollow tightly clamped against said shoulder by said magnet for resiliently positioning said magnet in said bore substantially at the free length of said spring and constituting the sole means for retaining said magnet within said bore.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the tubular member is formed with a transverse opening and in which the spring has a diametrically extending elongated rear end which extends diametrically of the tubular member and into said transverse opening.

5. The structure of claim 3 in which the sleeve is formed with a groove, and in which the spring is generally substantially a spiral spring and the said spring front end is formed Wit a end coil positioned in said groove and the next adjacent spring coil is substantially concentrio with said end coil and is coiled substantially within the end coil.

6. A magnetic clearance socket for driving driven elements such as nuts, sheet metal fasteners and the like comprising:

a substantially tubular body member having a front end and a rear end and having a longitudinally extending bore extending substantially from the front end of the rear end and having the front end formed with a non-circular outline for rotating one of said elements and having means defining an inwardly opening groove adjacent the rear end thereof, and having the rear end formed for attachment to a driving member by which the tool may be rotated;

a non-magnetic sleeve slidably mounted in said bore and having a hollow end formed with an internal shoulder;

a magnet secured within the hollow of the sleeve; and

a coil spring which is generally substantially spiral in shape and is positioned in said bore having the end coil at the front end wrapped substantially concentr-ically around the next adjacent coil with the end coil thereof seated against the shoulder in said sleeve and the next adjacent coil positioned inwardly of said groove closely underlying said front end coil resisting contraction thereof;

and said spring further having rear coils formed with an outer rear coil received in said body member groove and a second rear coil positioned substantially concentric within said outer rear coil and closely underlying the same resisting contracting movement thereof out of said groove.

7. A magnetic clearance socket for driving driven elements such as nuts, sheet metal fasteners and the like, comprising:

a substantially tubular body member having a front end and a rear end and having a longitudinal bore extending substantially from said front end to said rear end and having said front end formed with a noncircular outline for driving one of said elements, and having said rear end formed for attachment to a driver by which the tool may be rotated;

means forming a fastener element pickup magnet formed with an axial length less than that of said bore and being slidably mounted in said bore;

a coil spring substantially spiral in shape and positioned in said bore between said magnet and said rear end and having a forward end thereof connected to support said magnet in said bore substantially at the free length of said spring;

said spring further having an outer turn at the rear end thereof which has, in repose, a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said longitudinal bore so that it bears against the interior of said body member and further having an inner turn substantially concentric to said outer turn and closely underlying said outer turn resisting the contracting of said outer turn when said spring is under stress.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 671,789 4/01 Borgeson 81-1241 1,534,212 4/25 Hess. 1,566,760 12/25 Michel 81-1241 2,443,309 6/48 Dzus. 2,671,369 3/54 Clark 81-125 2,630,036 3/55 Brown 81125 2,720,804 10/55 Brown 81125 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETIC CLEARANCE SOCKET FOR DRIVING DRIVEN ELEMENTS SUCH AS NUTS, SHEET METAL FASTENERS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR BODY MEMBER HAVING A FRONT END AND A REAR END AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BORE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE FRONT END TO THE REAR END; MEANS ON THE FRONT END OF SAID BODY MEMBER FORMED WITH A NON-CIRCULAR OUTLINE FOR ROTATING ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS, AND MEANS ON SAID REAR END OF SAID MEMBER FORMED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A DRIVING MEMBER BY WHICH THE TOOL MAY BE ROTATED; A NON-MAGNETIC SLEEVE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BORE; A MAGNET SECURED WITHIN THE HOLLOW OF SAID SLEEVE; MAGNET RETAINING AND POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISING A COIL SPRING IN SAID BORE AND SECURED AT ITS REAR END TO SAID BODY MEMBER AND HAVING ITS FRONT END EXTENDING INTO THE HOLLOW OF SAID SLEEVE AND CONNECTED TO SAID SLEEVE AT SAID HOLLOW FOR RESILIENTLY POSITIONING SAID MAGNET IN SIAD BORE SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE FREE LENGTH OF SAID SPRING AND CONSISTING THE SOLE MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID MAGNET WITHIN SAID BORE, AND SAID FRONT END OF SAID SRING BEING FORMED WITH A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC TURNS INCLUDING AN OUTER TURN ENGAGING SAID SLEEVE IN THE HOLLOW THEREOF AND AN INNER TURN LYING CLOSELY WITHIN THE INNER DIMENSIONS OF SAID OUTER TURN RESISTING CONTRACTING OF SAID OUTER TURN UNDER STRESS. 